MANILA, Philippines – In the last week of campaigning, candidates for president and vice president are going back to vote-rich provinces where they believe they have considerable support bases to consolidate.
At least two presidential hopefuls – Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II – started the week attending a mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle.
For the rest of the week, candidates await the last pre-election survey that could indicate the outcome of the elections, as well endorsements by religious groups that could yet tilt the balance in favor of unlikely contenders or simply boost the numbers of current front runners.
Candidates are allowed to campaign only until Saturday, May 7. They will all hold their miting de avance on this day before heading to their home cities and provinces to cast their votes on Monday, May 9.
Monday, May 2
- After attending the mass at the Manila Cathedral, presidential candidate Binay visited Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
- Presidential bet Rodrigo Duterte campaigned in Zamboanga City and Pagadian City.
- After paying a courtesy call on the bishop of Tarlac City in the morning, president candidate Grace Poe did the rounds of local radio stations before holding a mini rally ay the Diwa ng Tarlac Convention Center. She then had lunch with leaders of the Nationalist People’s Coalition at the capitol. Poe proceeded to Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, where she led a groundbreaking at the Central Luzon State University. She had a motorcade to San Jose, where she paid a courtesy call on bishop before holding a mini rally. She held another mini rally in Guimba, also in Nueva Ecija.
- Roxas attended mass at the Manila cathedral.
Tuesday, May 3
- Binay conducts motorcades in the provinces of Antique; Roxas City, Capiz; and Kalibo, Aklan.
- Duterte’s vice presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano conducts his “Ronda-Serye” listening tours. From 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, he holds a dialogue with the Federation of Transport Association of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga at the Paskuhan Village parking lot in San Fernando City, Pampanga. After that, from 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm, he meets with government health workers at the Ospital ng Lipa, Batangas.
- Poe do the rounds of Dasmariñas, Silang, Carmona, and General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite.
- Roxas and running mate Leni Robredo joins President Benigno Aquino III in a rally in Iloilo City.
Wednesday, May 4
- Binay campaigns in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, and Isabela.
- Poe visits Quezon and Batangas provinces.
- Roxas campaigns in Rizal.
Thursday, May 5
- Poe goes around in Pangasinan, then heads back to Manila for the miting de avance of her godfather, reelectionist Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
- Roxas campaigns in Naga City, Camarines Sur, the home city of his vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
Friday, May 6
- Poe campaigns in Bulacan and Laguna.
Saturday, May 7
- Candidates hold their miting de avance. As of posting, most of them are planning to hold their final campaign rallies in Metro Manila, but details have yet to be finalized.
Sunday, May 8
*No campaigning allowed.
Monday, May 9
- Election day
This page is constantly updated as advisories from the candidates and their support groups come in. – Rappler.com